/ Licensing and Permitting

Businesses of all sizes thrive in Charlotte. With our high quality of life and below-average cost of living, world-class arts and major league sports, Charlotte is a great place to start and grow your business. Depending on your business type and location, there are several steps that you need to take prior to opening to ensure you have the licenses and permits that are required by the City of Charlotte and/or Mecklenburg County

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Licenses/Permits Checklist is a full list of everything you need to know about licensing and permitting a business in Charlotte, down to the departments you need to contact. Find it here!

Need a little more help? OpenCounter is a tool designed to guide entrepreneurs like you through the permitting process. Visit OpenCounter.com for everything you ever wanted to know about permitting a business in Charlotte!

BLNC counselors can assist in identifying state licensing requirements for specific business activities, provide helpful links to business forms needed to register a business in North Carolina, and connect you with wealth of information about service providers, resources and programs.

When it comes to taxes, Mecklenburg County is here to make sure all of your questions are answered. For instance, did you know that the Privilege License Tax was repealed in North Carolina in 2015? Mecklenburg County knows everything there is to know about taxes in Charlotte; visit them today!

Certain licenses and permits are required to own commercial and personal property in Charlotte, and Mecklenburg County can guide you through the process.

Business Personal Property: Business personal property refers to all the personal property, income producing property, supplies and leasehold improvements owned by a business or used by an individual for income purposes. Make sure your property is listed with the County Assessor’s Office!

If you’re looking for information on the permits and licenses needed for commercial and personal property in Charlotte, who better to help than the City themselves!

Learn about zoning: When it comes to Charlotte’s zoning regulations, the City of Charlotte can connect you to theresources and people you need to get your questions answered!

Get a fire inspection: All new building, additions to existing buildings, renovations and upfits, and changes of use to an existing building require a fire inspection in Charlotte. Learn more about how the City of Charlotte can help make this happen, and request your inspection now!

Get assistance for land development projects: Whether you’re a citizen, a developer, or a contractor, the City of Charlotte connects you to the information you need to start a land development project in Charlotte. Access the portal here!

Charlotte has quickly become a fun, foodie destination for many entrepreneurs. If you’re trying to join the food and beverage industry, or if you’re hoping to host a special event, the City of Charlotte can connect you to the licensing and permitting resources you need. A few of these resources are listed below!

Get a permit for your mobile food cart: Food trucks are here to stay! If you’re hoping to join Charlotte’s thriving food truck community, make sure you have the right permits! Get information on this and more from the City of Charlotte.

Get your ABC permit: Serving alcohol? You’re going to need a permit for that! Businesses manufacturing, distributing, serving and/or selling alcoholic beverages are required to get an ABC permit. Don’t worry—the City of Charlotte can help!

Host a special event, parade, or festival: Charlotte is a great place to hold an event! Before you can officially host your event, make sure you have the right permits. Learn more about what you need and how to submit an application from the City of Charlotte.

Charlotte Food Truck Association
The Charlotte Food Truck Association has developed a guide to starting your own food truck. You can download it here, or visit their website at CharlotteFoodTrucks.org.

Charlotte Center City Partners
The Charlotte Center City Partners can help you find street vending and food truck opportunities in Uptown Charlotte and Historic Southend. Click here to learn more about their program guidelines.

If you’re operating a vehicle for hire in Charlotte, there are specific things you need to know about licensing, inspection and operations. That includes you, Uber and Lyft drivers! Don’t fret, though. The City of Charlotte connects you to the resources you need to get your business up and running!

Vendors in Uptown Charlotte must apply through the Tryon Street Mall Program, which is managed by the Charlotte Center City Partners. Find the application you need by clicking here.

If you’re looking to sell items in the public right of way (streets and sidewalks) in the City of Charlotte, excluding Uptown, you can get what’s called a Peddler’s License. Learn about this license and how to apply by clicking here!

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Partnerships & Tools for Your Success

Welcome to Charlotte Business Resources.
Our goal is to connect you with the information you need to start and run a successful business.

CBRbiz.com represents a community-wide collaborative effort by a network of organizations committed to working together to save you time and money by providing relevant business resources & information.

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OUR PARTNERS

BEFCOR is a non-profit corporation providing business owners with long-term, fixed-rate financing for owner-occupied real estate and other fixed assets.

Carolina Business Capital (formerly Centralina Development Corporation) partners with banks to finance real estate and heavy equipment for small businesses across North Carolina.

CMSDCs mission is to expand business opportunities for Minority Business Enterprises.

Charlotte Business INClusion is a City of Charlotte program that seeks to increase utilization of Minority, Women and Small Business Enterprises in local contracting opportunities.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance is a membership, volunteer-led organization that creates competitive advantage by growing the economy, advocating pro-business public policies and delivering innovative programs and services.

We are a non-profit organization serving black-owned businesses in the Charlotte Mecklenburg region.

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library offers a wide variety of resources for businesses and non-profit organizations.

The workforce development board offers services and programs to support your business’s growth potential: customized recruiting assistance, training grants for new and incumbent workers, labor market information and more.

The City of Charlotte provides business development support through a variety of services and programs.

City Startup Labs (CSL) has a mission of reimaging of African American millennials (Black Adults 18-34 yrs.) as a new class of entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Small Business Center at CPCC provides expert assistance and valuable resources to prospective and existing small business owners and non-profit organizations.

The purpose of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte (LACCC) is to offer a sustainable bilingual platform of programs, events and services that engages, empowers and supports both Latino and non-Latino businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals.

Mecklenburg County oversees many business license and permit processes and seeks to increase participation of MWSBE firms in the business community.

The National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA), Charlotte Chapter, a non-profit organization established in 1985, is a professional development organization serving the Charlotte community at large.

NAWBO Charlotte is a professional organization specifically designed to fuel the success of the 42,000 women-owned businesses in the greater Charlotte area.